2023 Kia EV9 revealed

The 2023 Kia EV9 has been revealed ahead of the battery-electric three-row flagship SUV’s Australian launch in the third quarter of this year.

Remaining faithful to the Kia Concept EV9 that debuted at the 2021 Los Angeles auto show, the series-production Kia EV9 is big, bold and chiselled, resembling an oversized Kia Seltos from just about every angle.

Unsurprisingly, the concept’s ‘missing’ B-pillar has been returned and the suicide rear doors scrapped for more conventional rear-seat access, but the floating roofline effect has been retained via the tinted windows and black pillars.

This giant panda theme is continued by gloss black cladding and trim inserts, the latter even surrounding the vertical LED headlights and ‘Star Map’ LED daytime running lights.

The blocky proportions and short overhangs result in what Kia describes as an “undoubted aura of rugged capability for all conditions, with the serene calmness of a sophisticated EV”.

Full specifications are still to be revealed, so the extent to which the EV9 will match the Toyota LandCruiser and other flagship SUVs in terms of off-road capability is still to be gauged.

Underpinned by the proven and bespoke e-GMP architecture, the EV9 will be available in both six- and seven-seat layouts.

Space was a key priority for designers and was maximised by the flat floor and minimal real estate taken up by the yet-to-be-detailed battery-electric drivetrain.

The driver and front passenger are greeted by a large curved display comprising a pair of 12.3-inch screens – one for the digital cockpit, the other for the infotainment – and a smaller 5.0-inch unit situated between them to mitigate the number if physical buttons scattered about the interior.

A Genesis-inspired steering wheel pokes out from the floating layered dashboard, while the front seats are split by a vast centre console prioritising storage space over everything else.

The second row will consist of either a pair of reclining and pivoting captain’s chairs or a more traditional split-folding three-seater bench, depending on the variant.

The third row has two seats and the requisite cup holders and charging points expected of a family SUV.

Both the second and third rows can be folded flat regardless of the seating layout.

Kia design boss Karim Habib said the new EV9 breaks new ground as a family transporter and aims to redefine the standards for design, connectivity, useability and environmental responsibility.

“The Kia EV9 offers customers an exceptionally high-quality proposition and a fresh EV perspective in the family SUV sector,” he said.

“This new vehicle typology provides instinctive experiences and excellent comfort for not just the driver, but all occupants, through innovative use of space, technology and design.”

Full details of the EV9 will be revealed by the end of March, while pricing and local specs of Australia-bound versions will be released closer to launch.

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